The Nigerian Army has described as false an online report that General Nansak Shagaya and the army risk N100 million for the illegal detention of a POS operator currently suffering from ill health.
Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 3 Division, Nigerian Army, said in a statement that the attention of the 3 Division Nigerian Army had been drawn to an article circulating on social media alleging that the Nigerian Army and Major General Nansak Shagaya risk 100 million naira for the illegal detention of POS operator Nansak Selbar, who is reportedly at the point of death due to ill health.
According to the statement, the repulsive article, which purportedly originated from one Alex Giwa on January 3, 2025, made several spurious claims, including illegal detention and the critical illness of the said POS operator, Nansak Selbar.
“The article, which is being circulated by mischievous persons ostensibly to mislead the public and galvanise negative public opinion against security agencies, is false. It is expedient to clearly state that the narratives in the article are false and should be outrightly disregarded by the public,” the army stated.
According to the statement, Nansak Selbar was arrested for facilitating kidnapping activities by receiving ransom money on behalf of kidnappers.
“In the course of investigation, it was found that the suspect was also involved in other vices inimical to national security, including sourcing military uniforms, kits, and accoutrements for bandits and other criminal elements.
“This is in addition to defrauding unsuspecting members of the public under the guise of recruiting them into the Nigerian Army. In view of his suspected involvement in activities related to terrorism, we relied upon the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act (TPPA) 2022 and approached a competent court through motion ex-parte, obtaining an order allowing the military to detain him and continue with the investigation, after which he would be handed over to the relevant agency for further action.
“It is rather disturbing that the counsel for the suspect, who is reasonably expected to be familiar with the TPPA 2022, chose to malign the action of obtaining an ex-parte motion, obviously to set the public against established institutions.
“Nothing could be further from the truth than the allegation that the suspect is in custody on the instruction of Major General Nansak Shagaya.
” It is imperative to point out that the suspect is not illegally detained but is rather in custody in line with the provision of extant laws for investigations on activities inimical to national security.
“It is therefore shocking that the distasteful article is being circulated by mischief-makers to stir up sentiments against security agencies and attract public sympathy,” the statement further added.
